Fredericton, NB – 9 October 2016:  Join the HKVCA October 14th-16th for the Atlantic Region Annual Reunion and commemorative coin launch.  In remembrance of the Battle of Hong Kong, they will be hosting a series of events that will include greetings from Mayor O’Brien, a service of remembrance, guest speakers, a presentation of a new coin from the Royal Canadian Mint and a dance.

It all begins Friday, October 14th, at the Fredericton Inn where the registration and a meet and greet will be held. The HKVCA have activities planned for Saturday, October 15th starting at 11am with a service of remembrance at the Fredericton Cenotaph on Queen Street.  This will be followed a tour of the Fredericton Region Museum at 1:30pm and their Annual General Meeting at 3pm.

In honour of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Hong Kong, the Royal Canadian Mint has released a new $20 commemorative silver coin. It is a limited release of only 10,000 coins; one will be on view Saturday evening at the Fredericton Inn during the banquet.  The banquet will begin at 6pm, with several guest speakers including local MP Matt DeCourcey, Greg Fekner from the New Brunswick Military History Museum and Marc Milner from the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society.  Later in the evening, the HKVCA will be hosting a dance with live entertainment by “Chris Mercers Hot Jazz”.

The soldiers who fought in the Battle of Hong Kong made a huge sacrifice for our country, and this coin pays tribute to that sacrifice. As the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance recently stated, “This Royal Canadian Mint silver collector coin pays a lasting tribute to the bravery and resolve of the Canadians who fought to defend Hong Kong in December 1941 and whose actions remind us all of the high cost of defending our values”.

This special event is brought to you by the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association Atlantic Region, in partnership with the Oromocto Legion, the Fredericton Region Museum and the New Brunswick Military History Museum.  They hope that you will join them in remembrance of those who fought for our freedom and values, so that we can enjoy the society in which we live today.

For more information contact  Ruth Murgatroyd, HKVCA Atlantic Region Reunion Planning Committee by leaving a comment to this blog post or by contacting the Fredericton Region Museum.